A BANK worker was today jailed for two years for plundering £17,000 from customers - just two weeks after one had died.

Anne Peterson, 59, of Somerset Road, Barry stole from the account of two elderly customers who had banked with Lloyds for many years.

And to cover her tracks, the experienced bank worker diverted their monthly statements to hide any trace of her crimes.

Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said that Peterson stripped £12,000 from the account belonging to Rona Wilson, 92, including £4,000 just a fortnight after her death.

Mrs Wilson's daughter Christine Eddins told the court that the signature on a withdrawal slip was not her mother's.

She described the transactions as 'entirely unlawful' from the Lloyds branch in Barry.

Peterson's second victim William Tovey, 83, paid in £20,000 to an ISA account - but six unexplained withdrawals totalling £5,080 in 2012 flagged suspicions.

Mr Bennett said: "The statements were diverted so he would not be able to find out what was going on. This was effectively the defendant covering her tracks."

Mr Tovey told the court: "I've used the bank for 50 years. I never took anything out at all."

Peterson, of Barry, said that she was on holiday when the money was swiped from Mr Tovey's account - and tried to divert blame to her colleagues.

She said in police interview: "If those transactions are on my file number then somebody has been using my file number."

But she was found guilty of four counts of fraud.

Jailing her for two years, Judge Stephen Hopkins QC said: "You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

"You knew the bank system inside out, knowledge which you used to commit the offences.

"You showed no hint of remorse. You conducted yourself throughout in a cold and arrogant way.

"You are in my view a wicked, dishonest woman, stealing from two elderly bank customers who trusted you and then blaming others.

"It was a double breach of trust, not only upon your employers but upon two elderly customers."